Abstract

Beyond the Studio’ was a touring exhibition comprising the work of artists/designers: Fiona Kinnell, Jeff leak, Phil Eastwood, Robert Perry, Paul Middleton. Venues included: (1) The Menier Chocolate Factory Southwark London - 27 Aug - 2 Sep 2006. (2) The Lefkesia Gallery International University of Cyprus - 16 Jul - 23 Aug 2007. The project was initiated and curated by Paul Middleton, with peer review by Prof Evripedes Zantides. During the preparation for the exhibitions a dialogue developed regarding the role of the artist/designers studios, particularly how a studio impacts upon individual creative practice. This dialogue involved each participant describing the complex methods, and processes, they employ in the realisation of their work. The exhibition explored the phenomenon of the studio through the participants outputs, supported by a published catalogue containing a collection of revealing interviews with each participant, raising the question of whether the ‘studio’ is simply a space capable of accommodating physical needs, or an essential juncture for contemplation and reflection. The exhibitions and catalogue were designed to go some way towards providing evidence of the continuation of an historical relationship between the studio, time and space for a creative thinking process, and the actual making/realisation of art/design. In essence, the studio both physically and intellectually encapsulates a fundamental aspect of the process that leads to a finished piece of work. The participants used this as a starting point, an opportunity to contribute to an ongoing dialogue, and as an area of primary focus throughout the production of the work contained within the touring exhibition. *This supporting text is an edited extract from a more substantial text by Paul Middleton. ‘Beyond the Studio’ is a touring exhibition comprising four artists/designers who produce work in very different ways. The differences, similarities and contrasts provide the basis for a sustained dialogue that is articulated through textual and visual language of the exhibition series and reflected in the nature of the outputs. Although each practitioner has a contrasting notion of the studio, all agree that it is a critical element in the production of their work. During the preparation for the exhibition series the emerging dialogue focussed on the role of the studio and what it means to each participant, often this would involve attempting to describe the complex or even irrational methods and processes they employ. The exhibition explores the phenomenon of the studio through the outputs, supporting the emerging discourse and documenting each practitioner’s responses to the challenge of defining what the ‘studio’ means. The work has been selected by each exhibitor for its ability to represent their personal definition, providing a visual comparative analysis that illuminates the different methods and processes that define the work. The discourse raises the question of whether the ‘studio’ is simply a space capable of accommodating physical needs, or a seminal juncture for contemplation and reflection. Increasingly, it works towards a position of articulating the inescapable and profound influence the studio has on our thinking and practice, perhaps even defining us as practitioners. No matter how we describe the studio, physically or intellectually, it encapsulates the process that leads to a finished piece of work. The exhibited work represents an emerging discourse, disseminated through the exhibition series and associated publication which is curated by Paul Middleton, reviewed by Prof Evripedes Zantides.